COVID Fourth Wave Epidemiological Report from TCI Ministry of Health on January 20, 2022

Delivered by Dr. Nadia Astwood, Chief Medical Officer

#TurksandCaicos, January 28, 2022 – “As it stands, the TCI has recorded 5442 cases of COVID 19 since the start of the pandemic with 1882 cases being identified in January 2022 alone.

The TCI has reported a total 32 COVID 19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic with 6 deaths occurring in January 2022. The fourth wave which the TCI is currently experiencing began at the end of December 2022 and since then 2272 cases have been detected.

To put this into perspective, a similar number of cases was reported for the TCI over the first 11 months of the pandemic between March 23 – Feb 25.

123 cases were identified in October,

117 in November

451 in December 2021.

Cases reported in January 2022 ranged in age from a newborn to 91 years with 53% being female, 73% residents and 64% of individuals being symptomatic.

The highest proportion of cases were observed in the 30-39 years age group which represented 23% of cases. While 8.3% of cases were aged above 60 years, this still accounted for 142 persons. Persons in this age group are more likely to have other comorbidities or underlying chronic non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or cancer and are therefore at greater risk of severe disease and poor outcomes.

During this fourth wave and for the first time since the beginning of the epidemic in the TCI, cases have been detected on all inhabited islands in the TCI.

The positivity rate remains consistently high based on testing carried out at the National Public Health Laboratory, this is the percentage of people who test positive for the virus of those overall who have been tested. Although the vast majority of affected individuals reported mild symptoms such as cough and fever, the high overall numbers have translated into hospital admissions when compared to previous months.

As many as 30 hospital admissions in January 2022 had a COVID19 diagnosis which is a reflection of the widespread community transmission the TCI is currently experiencing. Dr Braithwaite Tennant will further expand on the impact of the current COVID19 wave on the TCI Hospitals.

Unfortunately, since December 20th 2021, the TCI has reported 7 COVID19 related deaths with 6 deaths being recorded in January 2022 alone.

Of the deaths in January 2022 (up to January 20)

4 (over 60) 1 (20 – 59)

1 (less than 20)

The most recent COVID19 vaccine report which was submitted on 16th January 2022 reported that:

82% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated (28639)

87% having received the first dose (30526)

14% booster coverage (4859)

Children aged 12 to 15 years:

1st dose 99

2nd dose 622

Overall, the MOH has noted breakthrough infections for those who have been fully vaccinated however the majority of persons experiencing severe disease are either unvaccinated or unboosted.

It is evident that the vaccine is effective in reducing the severity of the illness in the vast majority of cases, however the are many persons in the TCI who are eligible for the booster who have not taken it.

This is also reflected in the hospital admissions where persons who are experiencing more severe disease and are vaccinated are all unboosted. The policy has recently changed whereby persons who have completed their second dose of the vaccine are eligible for the booster as opposed to 6 months.

I would therefore continue to recommend that for those who are unvaccinated to get vaccinated and for those who are vaccinated to get boosted.  This is the best way to protect yourselves, your loved ones and those who you may come into contact with.

Reinfections- The MOH has noted a substantial number of persons who have been re-infected with some persons having been infected last year and are now presenting again with symptoms of COVID19.

Since December 20th 2021, 98 reinfections have been identified.

What we are seeing in the TCI is likely to be the result of the omicron variant which is highly transmissible meaning that it can spread more easily from person to person than previous variants. This variant is responsible for the surges in cases being experienced all over the world and the TCI is no different.